Living by the Seat of your Pants
Tiger riding is a bit of an art form for many. Like rodeo trick riders, some have so mastered crisis management and multi-tasking that they can do it while tiptoeing on the edge of chaos. They have learned how to “fly by the seat of their pants.”
This phrase comes from the early days of airplanes when the instrumentation was minimal or non-existent. An experienced pilot learned to read their plane through the seat of their pants. For example, when a plane is making a mid-air turn, the plane may either “slip” or “skid” into the turn. If the inside wing is too low the pilot may slip down in the seat. If the wing is too high the pilot may skid up in the seat. During a proper turn the pilot feels secure in the seat. Therefore, the pilot adjusts the ailerons based what “the seat of their pants” tells them.
When we are able to ride a tiger by the “seat of our pants” we can rely on intuition and experience rather than our usual discernment/decision-making skills. But it is nearly impossible to use intuition and experience when we are consumed by anxiety and stress.
When riding the tiger, we can reduce the anxiety by taking responsibility for our ride. We do so by “choosing the ride” rather than feeling we are being forced into it. We change the character of the ride from something we have to do into something we want to do. We feel a greater sense of control over our life. This happens when we ask and answer the simple question, “Does this Tiger need to be ridden now?” If we answer “yes” we can relax into the ride. If we answer “no” we can give yourself permission to get off the Tiger. Either way, we have made the choice.
This phrase comes from the early days of airplanes when the instrumentation was minimal or non-existent. An experienced pilot learned to read their plane through the seat of their pants. For example, when a plane is making a mid-air turn, the plane may either “slip” or “skid” into the turn. If the inside wing is too low the pilot may slip down in the seat. If the wing is too high the pilot may skid up in the seat. During a proper turn the pilot feels secure in the seat. Therefore, the pilot adjusts the ailerons based what “the seat of their pants” tells them.
When we are able to ride a tiger by the “seat of our pants” we can rely on intuition and experience rather than our usual discernment/decision-making skills. But it is nearly impossible to use intuition and experience when we are consumed by anxiety and stress.
When riding the tiger, we can reduce the anxiety by taking responsibility for our ride. We do so by “choosing the ride” rather than feeling we are being forced into it. We change the character of the ride from something we have to do into something we want to do. We feel a greater sense of control over our life. This happens when we ask and answer the simple question, “Does this Tiger need to be ridden now?” If we answer “yes” we can relax into the ride. If we answer “no” we can give yourself permission to get off the Tiger. Either way, we have made the choice.
Tip -- Choosing to Ride
First, we need to clear our mind of all the assumptions that may be getting in the way of our choosing. Most Tiger rides occur because we assume that some great catastrophe will occur if we do climb on. We are afraid and that fear has filtered out any positive possible outcomes. This is called catastrophizing. All we can see are negative results if we get off the Tiger, so we hang on and simply try to not fall off. So, the first step in “flying by the seat of your pants” is to set aside this assumption of catastrophic results.
Second, ask yourself “What Will You Gain from this Ride?” Often times, we feel anxious because we are trying to hit a homerun when all we need is a bunt. Catastrophes forecast failure on an epic scale. Our mind will give a more balanced view. What will we gain from this ride? Are we trying to protect the whole company from bankruptcy or simply trying to save this one account? Are we trying to prevent a catastrophe or simply trying to achieve a smaller, achievable, and necessary objective? As you ask this, you may even find that most of the stuff you are dealing with on the back of that Tiger is not even necessary?
Third, once you have identified the reason(s) for the ride, you can now ask “Is this the time for the ride?” The pressure to ride the Tiger rises from a sense of immediacy. It has to be done now or else! However, not every challenge is a crisis. Not every need is an emergency. Many problems need more time to sort themselves out than we are willing to allow. Therefore, it is important to ask yourself “Is this is really the time to ride this Tiger through this jungle?” Is it possible that these things can be more effectively dealt on another day?
When we are operating in “crisis mode” the mind can quickly become overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. While we cannot control our emotions, we can control the circumstances that trigger them. By changing our mental approach to our Tiger ride from a crisis to a choice, we are able to reduce the anxiety and allow our intuition and experience to play a greater role. We are able to relax into the ride and maybe even earn a few “style points” along the way. Listen to the “seat of your pants,” it can help you make those turns with grace and ease.
Second, ask yourself “What Will You Gain from this Ride?” Often times, we feel anxious because we are trying to hit a homerun when all we need is a bunt. Catastrophes forecast failure on an epic scale. Our mind will give a more balanced view. What will we gain from this ride? Are we trying to protect the whole company from bankruptcy or simply trying to save this one account? Are we trying to prevent a catastrophe or simply trying to achieve a smaller, achievable, and necessary objective? As you ask this, you may even find that most of the stuff you are dealing with on the back of that Tiger is not even necessary?
Third, once you have identified the reason(s) for the ride, you can now ask “Is this the time for the ride?” The pressure to ride the Tiger rises from a sense of immediacy. It has to be done now or else! However, not every challenge is a crisis. Not every need is an emergency. Many problems need more time to sort themselves out than we are willing to allow. Therefore, it is important to ask yourself “Is this is really the time to ride this Tiger through this jungle?” Is it possible that these things can be more effectively dealt on another day?
When we are operating in “crisis mode” the mind can quickly become overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. While we cannot control our emotions, we can control the circumstances that trigger them. By changing our mental approach to our Tiger ride from a crisis to a choice, we are able to reduce the anxiety and allow our intuition and experience to play a greater role. We are able to relax into the ride and maybe even earn a few “style points” along the way. Listen to the “seat of your pants,” it can help you make those turns with grace and ease.
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